Something bothers me about this new way Nishi is drawn. It's cool and very Kira-ish... but I guess I prefer the way he was drawn back in the days when he looked more like a kid with a crazy look on him.

I'm very deep in this side story (have you noticed ?...), looking at the way Oku usually make his backgrounds, using 3D models I tried to figure out the placing of the buildings of the school and the surroundings using chapter 287 and 288 but without a clear conclusion. In any case in one of the last tables there are people on the roofs, they don't look to me as policemen but soldiers with combat dresses, there are 4 of them on a lower roof, after the table of telephone conversation and others on the upper roof. One of the three is pointing at something, like giving orders to fire.

I'm definitevely on the opinion that the last windows explosion is due to army men shooting into the room ala antiterrorist mode. That is not uncommon by the army: Israelians use tanks or rockets and the Frenchs used to ground the whole palace during the Algerian war of independence to kill a single terrorist. It can be also seen in a lot of comics. I don't know if it's a bazooka blast or concentrated firearms fire, btw Nishi seems to be expecting exactly it: he looks out and you can see him smiling in the window's reflection. Afer the aliens attacks in the Japaneses cities I simply think that they are no more using any care and they will ground-zero the whole school.

This scene reminds me of a lot of fine movies that I liked a lot, Nishi looks like "D-Fens" in "Falling Down" with more spices...

Drolling for the next chapter, finally some good action after a lot of jibba jabba...

@Cali: I personally like the newer Nishi more (After disliking the younger version of him the entire time (acting tough then crying? Hypocrite. Wait, didn't he constantly call the others that too? God damn childish attitude.) to the point of facepalming myself when he was revived). It actually fits his attitude much more; his way of thinking and personality affected his look? But it's probably just Oku who upgraded his look to simply look cooler for this mini-arc (Unless this mini-arc connects to more army vs Gantz scenarios (even on the "Apocalypse" day or however it was called), where this would be the start of a bigger arc).

^Re-reading what I said, I notice something. Nishi had a more childish-crazy attitude to him, and it fit his look. Nishi now looks more mature-crazy, and he seems to have that kind of attitude instead as of now (he doesn't blurt out the word hypocrite for pointless reasons, and it doesn't seem like he'd end up crying again before getting killed if it happens).

I don't know if Nishi actually needs a hostage situation. The police/army basically called it a "hostage situation" for extra precautions, in case a student was still there, they have no actual proof anyone is still alive or not. He has the advantage of his suit and the small surprise in his bag. I personally don't even think the army/police would try to talk things out with him since he killed so many people already.

^Yes, but killing civilians in a room without cameras is one thing, facing off policemen with live footage is another. Of course, now that the Gantz team is visible, maybe the secrecy rule won't apply and Nishi's head won't be blown away, but still, we can't overlook that possibility too.

As for the hostage situation deal, I believe either the police or the press decided to release info like that in order not to cause panic. However, seeing as Nishi apparently was thinking the situation got out of hand ("how did it come to this?"), he might make use of piggy now. That is, if the catastrophe doesn't start right after.

^Wait didn't you vote this chapter as being the "catastrophe"? Lul. I am still nowhere sure it is though. Actually it could be the japanese govt. jumping the gun because of the chibi alien massacre that happened before (they undoubtedly have the corpse of the chibi... well, what's left of it).

Govt. Official: A single student slaughtering a whole class out the blue? Sounds like the other incident. Tell the army to move in, and use whatever tactics they've rehearsed for this kind of contigency. Don't let it turn into Osaka, or Shinjuku. Use of deadly force is authorized.

Originally Posted by Popothepenguin

its kinda pathetic how much time people (including me) on this thread spend thinking about every little thing that goes on in Gantz

Originally Posted by Shin_Igami

I suppose it comes from not having any new Gantz to talk about... I feel like a Junkie... o.O

^Yeah, and I still do, the thing is, if the catastrophe is really starting, as I think it is, then Nishi won't have to worry about using piggy as a hostage to get out a petty situation like being cornered by the police/army. He'll have greater problems.

Your argument is pretty reasonable though, and I'm beginning to have my doubts on the windows blasting being the beginning of the catastrophe. Still, I believe the contrast of Sakurai and Tonkotsu's happy day would only prove meaningful if it is the Catastrophe indeed. (we've been waiting for this ever since the end of the 1st phase...)

^If oku did classical litterature and not manga, i'd agree with you about catastrophe being the anti-climax to the happy day Cherry and Tonkotsu had, but well, he doesn't, so i have second thoughts. Well, more than second thoughts.

Originally Posted by Popothepenguin

its kinda pathetic how much time people (including me) on this thread spend thinking about every little thing that goes on in Gantz

Originally Posted by Shin_Igami

I suppose it comes from not having any new Gantz to talk about... I feel like a Junkie... o.O

@Cali: I personally like the newer Nishi more (After disliking the younger version of him the entire time (acting tough then crying? Hypocrite. Wait, didn't he constantly call the others that too? God damn childish attitude.) to the point of facepalming myself when he was revived). It actually fits his attitude much more; his way of thinking and personality affected his look? But it's probably just Oku who upgraded his look to simply look cooler for this mini-arc (Unless this mini-arc connects to more army vs Gantz scenarios (even on the "Apocalypse" day or however it was called), where this would be the start of a bigger arc).

^Re-reading what I said, I notice something. Nishi had a more childish-crazy attitude to him, and it fit his look. Nishi now looks more mature-crazy, and he seems to have that kind of attitude instead as of now (he doesn't blurt out the word hypocrite for pointless reasons, and it doesn't seem like he'd end up crying again before getting killed if it happens)

I think Oku finally has a handle on who Nishi is now, the other characters were well defined back at the start but Nishi and all this secrets were up in the air, maybe Oku didn't know where he was going with the character, he sure seems to know now as he has taken center stage like he was at the start. Unkike you I have liked him from the start and was gutted when they killed him off, when he returned obviously happy at his return. But he wasn't really used much, but Oku has shown its for a reason.

And as for the hypocrite comments, they were all directed at them for not wanting to harm anyone/thing then still having to do it.But now everyone kills the enemy w/o a second thought.

^Yes, but killing civilians in a room without cameras is one thing, facing off policemen with live footage is another. Of course, now that the Gantz team is visible, maybe the secrecy rule won't apply and Nishi's head won't be blown away

I agree with that, it's more than obvious.

Originally Posted by Cali

^As for the hostage situation deal, I believe either the police or the press decided to release info like that in order not to cause panic. However, seeing as Nishi apparently was thinking the situation got out of hand ("how did it come to this?"), he might make use of piggy now. That is, if the catastrophe doesn't start right after

I don't think so, he spared her to begin with and then it looked like he went on a sort of catatonic state, noticing that she was still in the room when she started to talk. The reason why Oku left her in the room will cause probably Nishi dying while protecting her, I hope it won't happen but it's the classic way the author put out things, very dramatic but not so funny IMHO.